Moon X-Power 300 front light

The Moon X-Power 300 is a compact, easy-to-use light that cranks out a good amount of light for the price.

The X-Power 300 uses a rechargeable lithium ion battery (3.7V 2300mAh) and a single Cree XP-G high brightness LED. The lamp body looks aluminium but it's actually plastic, although the light cap – the front end – is aluminium.

It mounts to your bars via a plastic quick release mount (with shims if necessary, depending on bar diameter) that's proved secure on every bike I've tried it on. Undoing the quick release to alter the beam angle is simple, as is removing the light from the mount for security or recharging. A helmet mount is included in the kit, although we wouldn't use it on the road for fear of dazzling other road users.

You get five different light settings here: overdrive, high, standard, low and flashing. Unfortunately, if you're using the low setting in town and hit an unlit section of road, you have to cycle through the flashing mode and then the off position to get to overdrive. That moment of darkness is far from ideal, so I just didn't swap between settings during a ride.

You change between the modes via a button on the back of the lamp. Illuminated in use, it's simple to see, although it sits flush with the casing so it can be awkward to press in cold, gloved fingers – another reason not to alter the setting as you're riding.

Sling the X-Power 300 in 'overdrive' and you get a strong central beam with a lot of punch – there's a good intensity of light reaching ahead. The beam pattern is very round; there are certainly cleverer lens designs out there that put the light more precisely where it's needed, but this does work well, giving you enough light to ride on unlit roads.

I took this light out last night and used it on the worst bit of road I know - full of potholes with gravel patches all over the place. I could see enough to feel perfectly safe while riding fast. There are brighter lights out there, and ones that offer more peripheral lighting, but the Moon X-Power 300 certainly does the job. I like something like an Exposure Strada for the ultimate in vision, but for the money you really can't complain here.

The beam is actually very similar to that of the Moon Meteor which we've also reviewed, although that light is £40 cheaper.

The downside to that intensity of light is quite a short runtime. You're looking at about 2.5hrs in the overdrive setting, although it's closer to 3.5hrs if you shift to high and 6hrs in standard mode. A red light glows to warn you when the battery is running low – you have about 30mins of use remaining. You can recharge from either the mains or a USB port. Plug it into the mains and charging takes about 3hrs from empty.

Verdict

Solid performance with an impressive output for the cash.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Moon X-Power 300 front light

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the light is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Moon say:

"1 x CREE XP-G R4 LED - 300 / 320 lumen output

Integrated Li-ion rechargeable battery

Recharge directly from your PC or Mac via USB connection or mains

Includes battery low indicator

4 light modes - constant & flashing

Water resistant construction

Quick release bracket with horizontal adjustment"

It provides enough light to ride on unlit roads, although I'd want a little more illumination that this offers if that was my main type of riding. You certainly get plenty of light for keeping you safe on lit urban roads.

Rate the light for quality of construction:

7/10

It's pretty compact and tough enough to put up with an occasional drop.

Rate the light for design and ease of use. How simple was the light to use?

7/10

The button on the back is a little hard to press with gloved fingers.

Rate the light for the design and usability of the clamping system/s

7/10

Rate the light for waterproofing. How did it stand up to the elements?

7/10

Not completely waterproof, but certainly water resistant.

Rate the light for battery life. How long did it last? How long did it take to recharge?

6/10

You will be recharging this light a lot – although that's probably not a problem.

Rate the light for performance:

7/10

Rate the light for durability:

7/10

Rate the light for weight, if applicable:

7/10

Rate the light for value:

7/10

Tell us what you particularly liked about the light

It's small and light and gives out a good amount of light.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the light

The fact that you have to turn the light off momentarily if you want to move from a standard setting up to a high power setting.

Did you enjoy using the light? Yes.

Would you consider buying the light? No, because of the 'off' mode as you cycle through the settings.

Would you recommend the light to a friend? If they were happy leaving it in a single mode throughout their ride.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 41 Height: 190cm Weight: 75kg

I usually ride:My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,

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Mat has worked for loads of bike magazines over 20+ years, and been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. He's been road.cc technical editor for eight years, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a past winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer.

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